Birch bark basket by Penny Kagigebi
Artwork by Emily Klarer
About
Manoomin Arts Initiative (MAI) grew out of an initial grant through Artists on Main Street from Rethos.org and Springboard for the Arts in 2019. Created fall of 2021, Manoomin Arts Initiative (MAI) was approved and is supported by the City Council of Mahnomen, MN. MAI is a group of experienced creative collaborators led by Native and non-native artists and includes organizers in business, economic planning, city council and administration, and Gizhiigin Arts incubator of the Economic Development of the White Earth Nation. MAI is ever-growing and works with many community partners and community members to continue to build a creative economy through artists and arts that inspires and instigates vitality locally and regionally.
The word Manoomin was chosen to name our organization, to represent the community we represent.
“Tribal elders tell legends about a time more than a thousand years ago when their prophets told the people to travel west from their ancestral homelands on the Atlantic Coast to “the land where food grows on water.” That land was the wild rice country of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ontario, and Manitoba.”
-Anton Treuer, Author & Ojibwe Language Professor
Kent Estey
(White Earth Ojibwe)
Kent is a working artist who specializes in contemporary landscape and multi-medium paintings. He is a proud member of the White Earth Nation of Ojibwe in Northwestern Minnesota. He and his wife, Becky, live and work on the White Earth Reservation in the village of Naytahwaush, Minnesota.
Artist Kent Estey working in his Naytahwaush studio.
Photo by Tj Turner
Rebecca Dallinger
Becca’s role as grant manager, instigates and supports community and public art programming. She has 20+ years in, photography, arts development and community driven collaborative organizing both in the twin cities, in Mahnomen County and at the White Earth Tribal and Community College. She was the initial guest curator with the Big River Continuum, a Residency and Arts project with Weisman Art Museum, University of Minnesota. Becca is a 2021 Alumni of Creative Communities Leadership institute with Springboard for the Arts. She lives with her family in Ogema, MN.
Photo by Nedahness Greene
Joseph Allen
(Sicangu Lakota Oyate)
Joseph is the Director of the Gizhiigin Arts Incubator in Mahnomen, MN—a project of the White Earth Nation’s Economic Development division. Gizhiigin assists artists in achieving their artistic and entrepreneurial goals. Allen is a photographer with over three decades of experience in creating, exhibiting, and selling his art. Born in Eagle Butte, SD, Joseph is a citizen of the Sicangu Lakota Oyate and currently lives in the rural Sugarbush Township in the White Earth Nation.
Joseph Allen & Tara Mason at Wild Rice Festival 2023
Photo by Nedahness Greene
Penny Kagigebi
(White Earth Ojibwe direct descendant & Two-Spirit)
Penny grew up in rural Ogema/White Earth and is a graduate of Waubun High School. Today she’s a full-time artist creating traditional and contemporary Ojibwe art with a focus on birchbark basketry and quill boxes. Penny describes herself as an advocate for joy and Mino-Bimaadiziwin (good life/good health) through Ojibwe Culture and Arts.
Artist Penny Kagigebi teaching a birchbark basket class at Gizhiigin Arts Incubator.
Photo by Tj Turner
Tara Mason
(White Earth Ojibwe)
Tara is an enrolled member of White Earth Ojibwe and is a former Tribal Council member for the White Earth Nation. She is dedicated to her community as an artist, organizer, and volunteer who co-runs the Naytahwaush Community Council where she lives with her family. As an artist, Tara has spent the past 30 years designing and creating traditional Native regalia.
Photo by Nedahness Greene
Deb McArthur
(White Earth Ojibwe)
Deb is a retired administrator residing in Mahnomen, Minnesota. Deb has had a strong interest in the arts which stems from her first introduction as a child to the art of embroidery. She sees art as a means of conversation that shares its originality of beauty, opinion, and imagination as it represents us as a people, a tribe, a community, and a way of life.
(Left) Deb McArthur, Marybeth Gilsdorf, Artist Hans Gilsdorf, Rebecca Dallinger, Kate Spilde, Artist Mary Turner and Ian McArthur discuss collaborative partnerships and public art projects from Detroit Lakes to Mahnomen, MN.
Wendy Roy
(White Earth Ojibwe)
Wendy has been an artist and entrepreneur with over 21+ years’ experience. Her knowledge of working in the creative arts economy has led to her becoming a life-long mentor to other artists and makers. Wendy works alongside other creatives to help them learn how to take part in pop up markets, conferences, community events, powwows, and art fairs. Learning beadwork from her grandma at 8 years old Wendy was raised to share her gifts through teaching. She has instructed many community classes at the White Earth Tribal and Community College and broader Minnesota region.
Artist Wendy Roy teaches a beading class with Christmas Ornaments- one of her many classes.
Mary Turner
Mary has been a resident of the White Earth Reservation since moving to Naytahwaush as a child. After graduating from Mahnomen High School Mary went on to receive a bachelor’s degree of Science in Business Management from Minnesota State University Moorhead. As an artist, Mary practices her art as a seamstress daily, creating ribbon skirts, ribbon shirts, quilts, and doll clothes. Mary sees public art as a priority to continue to build community pride.
Photo by Nedahness Greene
Taylor Vonderharr
Taylor is the City Administrator for Mahnomen. Taylor has her bachelor’s in business and a master’s in public administration and economic development. She is invested in growing community art to increase pride and build on our community strengths and uniqueness. She resides with her family in Naytahwaush, MN.
Photo by Nedahness Greene
Funders
Past Funders
